Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

[ChaseB]

Operation Sports is happy to bring you an exclusive look at the "signature traits" being included in NHL 12. EA Canada developer Novell Thomas will be detailing this new gameplay addition and how it should change the way folks play NHL 12.

Hey, my name is Novell Thomas and I’m a producer on NHL 12. As mentioned in an earlier blog by Sean Ramjagsingh called Gameplay Enhancements, NHL 12 has over 300 gameplay refinements and many other great additions as well. One of those additions, which I’m going to go into detail about, is Signature Traits.

Be sure to check out the four new screenshots in high resolution in our screenshots section. Finally, the end of this blog also contains the first details about the NHL 12 demo.

Read More - NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

[plaidchuck]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

So does this mean player types are gone?

[bwiggy33]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

It all sounds great, the only problem is if it will actually hold true in the gameplay. Ever since like 2004ish they have always labeled players as a sniper, grinder, playmaker, defensive/offensive defensmen etc. The only thing is, you could still never tell the difference between them. At least since the game has been on 360 and ps3. I can't completely recall last gens games and if players played differently then one another. I just pray to god this can show in the gameplay department. It is IMO the biggest thing missing from this game. It can truly become a thing of beauty if this plays out well.

[plaidchuck]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

It all sounds great, the only problem is if it will actually hold true in the gameplay. Ever since like 2004ish they have always labeled players as a sniper, grinder, playmaker, defensive/offensive defensmen etc. The only thing is, you could still never tell the difference between them. At least since the game has been on 360 and ps3. I can't completely recall last gens games and if players played differently then one another. I just pray to god this can show in the gameplay department. It is IMO the biggest thing missing from this game. It can truly become a thing of beauty if this plays out well.

Agreed it all sounds well and good but it will remain to be seen until we can actually play it. IMO I think the attributes need an overhaul but I doubt that will happen this gen.

[Money99]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

Thanks Chase!

If it works as advertised, I'll be very happy. I'm also glad to see that they recognized that player separation hasn't been very good for a while now.

[beal99]

why does the Duncan Keith shot say "chicago stadium" on the ice? Did EA lose the rights to put "United Center?"

[Money99]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

why does the Duncan Keith shot say "chicago stadium" on the ice? Did EA lose the rights to put "United Center?"

Classic buildings?

[onlybygrace]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a 93-94 season game mode. Imagine being able to play with all the classic players...

Bure, Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman, Sakic, in their primes.

Sorry, off topic, but Money99's comment made me do it.

[addybojangles]

Huge Noses - Players who have a nose that rivals that of Pinocchio. Example: Brad Marchand

[Money99]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a 93-94 season game mode. Imagine being able to play with all the classic players...

Bure, Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman, Sakic, in their primes.

Sorry, off topic, but Money99's comment made me do it.

That would be awesome!
I'd love classic teams.

In NBA2K11, the teams are represented well against their era well. So a team from the 80's will be much slower and smaller than a team from 2010.

But I'm sure if they had these teams, every Leaf fan will try to redo '93 all over again. And possibly to snipe Kerry Fraser.

[addybojangles]

Oh, are we going to see the 1-3-1 in the game?

[plaidchuck]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

Oh, are we going to see the 1-3-1 in the game?

This. There needs to be actually strategies that do something in the game, rather than them just telling us "use create a play"

[kai123]

Re: Exclusive NHL 12 Producer Blog: Signature Traits

Great read! I'm just concerned with one thing, are these traits dependent on player tendencies/ratings or player types?

[FBeaule04]

13 forwards type and only 2 defenseman type???

Shouldn't come as a surprise since any D in that game can get is jock handed to him by dangling from Riley Cote or Derek Boogard in NHL 11.

Been an NHL fan since I'm 4 years old, and it's obvious that there's only 2 traits in the NHL community for D-man.

[Mongo14]

Should have used Sean Avery for net agitator with his way of distracting goal tenders.